This is the second article in the series of Lions Squad Contenders for Super Rugby 2014. We do 2 articles per week per South African Super Rugby participating franchise.

We discuss the players IN the Super Rugby Group, and not all the options beyond that.

In this Article we look at the contenders for HOOKERS in the Lions 2014 Super Rugby group, and whether they could force their way into Bok contention.

The Contenders:

Name: Willie Wepener:

Position Hooker Height 1.80 Weight 108 Date of Birth 2 April 1981 Place of Birth Newcastle, South Africa Provincial Debut 2002 for Lions in Currie Cup Provincial Caps 91 SA sides (Golden Lions, Leopards, Griquas, Blue Bulls), 27 Clermont Provincial Points 40 (for sa sides), 15 Clermont Super Rugby Debut 2006 for Cats Super Rugby Caps 63 (2 Cats, 38 Lions, 23 Bulls) Super Rugby Points 10 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

Willie Wepener attended Drakensberg Primary School, Newcastle High School and Helpmekaar College.

He is an old campaigner and has been around the block many times. He is 32 years old and has played for the Golden Lions, Leopards and  Griquas in the Currie Cup as well as the Cats in Super Rugby all before and until 2006.

In 2007 – 2009 he was at the Lions for Super Rugby, where he played for them 38 times.

In 2009 and into 2010 he went overseas to Clermont Auvergne, whom he represented 27 times.

In 2011 to mid 2013 he was at the Blue Bulls where he played 25 times for them and at the Bulls in Super Rugby where he played another 23 games.

A week or 2 into the 2013 Currie Cup season, in August 2013 he made his transfer to the Golden Lions, signing a two-year contract with them and playing in 9 games in the Currie Cup.

Willie is a bit of a journeyman but should mostly have the starting berth in Super Rugby in 2014.

Name: Robin Leendert “Robbie” Coetzee:

Position Hooker Height 1.85 Weight 105 kg Date of Birth 2 May 1989 Place of Birth Pretoria Provincial Debut 2012 for Blue Bulls Provincial Caps 29 Provincial Points 15 Super Rugby Debut Super Rugby Caps 0 Super Rugby Points 0 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

Robbie went to Mayville Primary School and Eldoraigne High School and represented the Blue Bulls in the Uunder 18 Academy Week and CAR Under 18 in 2006.

In 2007 He represented the Blue Bulls in the Under 18 Craven Week.

In 2008 he represented the Free State in the Under 19 and Under 21 Ccompetitions and in 2009 also the Free State in the Under 21 Competition.

In 2010 Robbie was at Tuks and played Varsity Cup and for the Blue Bulls in the Under 21 Competition and in 2011 he only represented Tuks in the Varsity Cup.

In 2012 Robbie made his senior breakthroughs, playing for the Blue Bulls in the Vodacom Cup and Currie Cup Premier Division.

In 2013 Robbie moved to the Golden Lions where he played in the Lions Challenge, Vodacom Cup, Super Rugby Promotion / Relegation games and the Currie Cup Premier division.

Robbie now has the chance to make his breakthrough to earn his Super Rugby debut in 2014 and should be one of the 2 prime choices for hooker for the Lions in Super Rugby but one feels he might be slightly behind Willie Wepener in the pecking order for starting positions.

Name: Francois du Toit:

Position Hooker Height 1.78m Weight 103 kg Date of Birth 17 August 1990 Place of Birth Johannesburg Provincial Debut 2012 for Golden Lions against Leopards in Vodacom Cup Provincial Caps 27 Provincial Points 20 Super Rugby Debut Super Rugby Caps 0 Super Rugby Points 0 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

Francois attended Hoërskool Florida and came through the Golden Lions youth system and played for them at various youth levels, including the Under 18 Academy Week (2007), Under 18 Craven Week (2008) and Under 19 Competition (2009).

I 2010 he played in the Under 21 Competition as well as for South Africa in the IRB Junior World Championship and also was named on the bench for the opening game of the 2010 Currie Cup Premier Division season, but did not play in the game.

In 2011 he played for UJ in the Varsity Cup and the Golden Lions in the Under 21 Competition.

In 2012 he played for UJ in the Varsity Cup and finally made his senior debut for the Golden Lions in the Vodacom Cup game against the Leopards. He also represented the SA Students side in 2012.

He was then also included in the squad for the 2012 Currie Cup Premier Division.

In 2013 he played for the Golden Lions in the Vodacom Cup and the Steval Pumas in the Currie Cup First Division and Currie Cup Promotion / Relegation games against Griquas.

Should he play Super Rugby in 2014, it would be his debut in the competition.

Starters:

The Lions will start with Willie Wepener as starting hooker but both Robbie Coetzee and Francois du Toit should also get Super Rugby game time in 2014.

The next Article in the range will deal with the Lions locks.